The Spice Must Flow: Here’s everything we know about Dune 2, from its release date to its cast, plus plot details, trailers and more along the way.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been two years since Dune: Part 1 hit theaters. But it is nevertheless the case, and it is almost time to return to the desert planet of Arrakis and return to the fight for the most coveted resource in the universe.
The Dune films adapt a series of novels by Frank Herbert, the first of which was released in 1965. The series spans all 15 books and depicts a universe in the distant future, ruled by a sprawling empire. For his two films, director Denis Villeneuve was interested in Frank Herbert’s first novel.
We explain everything we know about the highly anticipated second part of Dune, from its release date to its cast, its plot and more.
Summary
- Dune 2 release date: When is it coming out?
- Dune 2 Cast: Who’s in it?
- Dune 2 Plot: What to Expect?
- Dune 2 trailers
Dune: Part Two Release Date – When is it coming out?
Dune 2, also known as Dune: Part Two, will be released on February 28, 2024.
Initially set for mid-November 2023, the release date for the sequel was then moved forward by two weeks when Marvel announced that its Blade reboot would be pushed back and released in 2024.
But due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Warner Bros. preferred to delay the release of the film until next year. It is indeed difficult to promote such a big feature film without its actors! As a result, the film was pushed back four months and is now scheduled for March 2024.
Dune Cast: Part Two – Who’s in it?
The cast of Dune: Part II sees the return of many A-list actors, while adding a few familiar faces to its ranks. Check out the full list below:
- Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atréides
- Zendaya as Chani
- Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan
- Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen
- Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot
- Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV
- Rebecca Ferguson as Dame Jessica
- Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck
- Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
- Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban
- Javier Bardem as Stilgar
While Chalamet had an important role in Part One as one of the main characters, Zendaya will take up more space in the sequel since her character will have a lot to do. Timothée Chalamet’s character only saw her in visions during the first film, but this second opus will finally confirm a real relationship between the protagonists.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Dune director Denis Villeneuve explained that although Part Two was an “epic war action film,”he didn’t want the love story between Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya get lost in the middle of the battles: “I kept repeating to my team: “The most important thing is this spark, this relationship between these two characters.» If we didn’t capture that, if we didn’t have that on screen, there was no film. This relationship is the epicenter of the story.”
Timothée Chalamet echoed Villeneuve’s sentiments in the same interview, referring to Zendaya’s character as “the key to [his] own character.”Before explaining in more detail: “The relationship [with] Chani becomes in a way a moral compass. She is truly the humanizing and anchoring force in the face of [the messianic prophecy that surrounds her hero].”
In addition to the returning characters, there will be new faces among the already prestigious cast. Four of the most notable additions are Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux and Christopher Walken. Florence Pugh was cast as Princess Irulan, the emperor’s daughter who tries to help her father maintain his power over the universe. Austin Butler will play Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the violent and sadistic nephew of Stellan Skarsgård’s character, determined to destroy Paul and his allies. As for Léa Seydoux, she will be Lady Margot, a Bene Gesserit. Finally, Christopher Walken will play the Emperor himself.
Dune Plot: Part Two – What to Expect?
The plot of Dune 2 will follow the second half of Herbert’s books. We promise that there will be no spoilers in this summary: it is the one presented by Warner Bros.
“Dune: Part Two will explore the legendary journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while embarking on a warpath of vengeance against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he strives to prevent a terrible future that only he can anticipate.”
As Herbert’s novel is an impressive volume of 412 pages, Denis Villeneuve decided to divide it into two parts. It is certainly not the longest book to be adapted for the big screen, but its complexity makes the task more difficult. The world it contains is as rich as it is vast, and the relationships between the characters form a tangle that needed to be shown correctly. Villeneuve’s first Dune was an opportunity to build a coherent world while Dune: Part Two will further explore the social and political relationships among its many characters.
During a press conference, Denis Villeneuve also said he believes that Dune 2 is much better than the first: “I wouldn’t say that the film is perfect, but I am much more satisfied with the second part than I was. was from the first.”
Is there a trailer for Dune: Part Two?
A new trailer for Dune: Part Two was released on December 12, 2023. Watch it below:
The first trailer for Dune 2 was released on May 3, 2023. Watch it below:
The trailer shows Paul Atreides (Chalamet) living among the Fremen and growing closer to Chani (Zendaya). We get a full glimpse of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Butler) in all her glory, as Princess Irulan (Pugh) reflects on the fall of House Atreides and wonders if Paul might still be alive.
The most important part of the trailer, however, comes at the end when Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and Paul discuss the idea of catching and riding a sandworm, a mode of transportation among the Fremen. In a moment of triumph at the end of the trailer, Chani, Stilgar and the Fremen watch as he pulls off this feat.
The third trailer for Dune: Part II reveals more footage from the film, including the Fremen riding sandworms, Paul having more nightmarish visions of the war to come, and even a glimpse of the violence and the cruelty of Feyd-Rautha.
That’s all we know about Dune: Part Two at the moment, but we’ll be sure to update this page as announcements become available.
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